Process of and apparatus for cooling internal-combustion engines



Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,511

W. W. MUlR PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR- COOLING INTERNALGOMBUSTIONENGINES Filed Feb. 15. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnveniln,

( WWMuir arm/M Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,511

w. w MUIR PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING INTERNAL COMBUSTICNENGINES Filed Fe 15. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WELLINGTON W. MUIR, OI LOGKPORT, NEW YORK.

Application filed February 15, 1922. Serial No. 536,827.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WELLINGTON W. Mum, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of andApparatus for Cooling Internal- Combustion Engines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a cooling system for internal combustionengines, ,wherein a double impeller pump is employed, and has for itsobject to provide a method and an apparatus which Will be simple inconstruction, certain in action, and more eflicient in use than thoseheretofore proposed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel steps and combinations of steps constituting the process and inthe novel parts and combinations of parts constituting the apparatus,all as will more fully appear hereinafter and be particularly pointedout in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, in which like numerals designate like parts in all theviews:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, partially sectional view of a cooling systemmade in accordance with this invention; and

Figure 2 is a similar view of a somewhat modified form of the invention.

1 indicates any suitable engine jacket, 2 the normal level of thecoolingfluid in said jacket, 3 a steam or vapor space above the level 2,4 a pipe conveying the generated steam or vapor into the top 5 of acondenser 6, and 7 a space or tank at the bottom of said condenser. 8indicates a connection from said tank 7 to the top side of a doubleimpeller pump 9; 10 a pipe leading from the double impeller pump 9 backinto the jacket, and 11 indicates branches of said pipe 10 to facilitatethe circulation of the cooling fluid through the jacket 1. From the topof the jacket 1 beginning at the water level 2, is a connection 12joined to a pi e 13 which communicates with the under side 14 of theimpeller pum 9, as shown.

The operation 0 this invention will be clear from the foregoing, but maybe briefly summarized as follows:

The level of the water in the jacket being brought to the point 2, steamor vapor will be generated and ass throu h the pipe 4 down into the conenser 6, w ere it will be brought to the liquid state and collected inthe tank 7. From the tank 7 it will be pulled by the double impellerpump 9 through the pipe Sand forced throu h the pipe 10 back into thejacket. As the liquid is thus returned to the jacket and the levelthereof brought to the connection 12 the said liquid will overflow intosaid pipe 13 and be brought to the under side 14 of the impeller pump 9,so that said under side of said pump will circulate the liquid aroundand around through the pipes 10 and 13 into and out of the jacket andsaid pump will maintain this circulation so long as there is enoughliquid in the jacket to overflow into the pipe 13. Further, so lon asthe flow of liquid from the tank 7 and ire-m the pipe 13 are aboutequal, the pressure on the top 15 of said pump and on the bottom 14thereof will be about the same, and therefore the cooling action will beabout the same in the jacket and in the condenser 6.

On the other hand, should the pressure in the pipe 13 rise higher thanthat in the pipe 8, the pressure at the point 16 in the pump 9 willoverbalance the pressure from the pipe 8 in the upper compartment 15 ofsaid pump, and thus will the liquid cease to be drawn from the tank 7and only be circulated through the pi es 10 and 13. This ceasing of theflow 0 liquid from the tank 7 will cause steam to accumulate in thecondenser 6 and condensed steam to accumulate in the tank 7, until thepressure in the pipe 8 again equals that in the pipe 13.

On the other hand, should the level in the jacket 1 decrease so that theliquid leaves the pipe 13, then the ump 9 can only pull liquid from thetank 7 with the result that the level inthe jacket 1 will risesufiiciently as to again cause liquid to overflow into the pipe 13. Inother words, it will now be clear that this system enables one to employa single pump 9 and to maintain an equal circulation, or a balancedcirculation, through the jacket and through the condenser. This is afeature of distmct advantage in systems for cooling internal combustionengines, because it insures at all times an efficient circulation aroundthe cylinder walls, thus avoiding steam pockets and the over heatinof'the local spots.

In t e somewhat modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure 2,the operation and construction is substantially the same asthatdisclosed in Figure 1, but wlth the following changes: The lowerportion of the condenser 6 is provided with a partition or diaphragmterminating in the tube or pipe 21 extending well below the liquid 22 inthe tank 7, and a passage 23 inside the condenser is located outsidesaid diaphragm 20 in order that it may serve as a vent for the system.The pipe 10 leading from the pump 9 into the jacket 1 instea of beingovided with the branches 11 shown in lhgure 1 is provided wlth the gooseneck 25 and said goose neck is provided with a perforation 26 locatedsomewhat above the normal level 2 of the liquid, which perforation notonly prevents the goose neck from filling with liquid and thus acting asa siphon to empty the jacket back into the pump, but it also serves toreceive steam from the space 3, which steam exerts an equal ressure onthe fluid in both branches 0 the goose neck and thus aids to maintainthe level of the liquid at the point 2. In the form illustrated inFigure'l, the double check valves 45 and 46 prevent the liquid fromreturnin to the pump 9. The provision of the diap ragm 20 and pipe 21-in the tank 7 enables the operator to collect and condense any alcoholicor other vapors which may have escaped condensation in the condenser 6,and the extension of the water passage 23 up to the top of the condenser6 and connecting the'same with the vent opening 28 leading to theatmosphere enables the condenser 6 to automatically vent itself wheneverthe pressure gets too high therein. Of course, should it be desired todo so, the vent opening 28 may be valved as usual. The goose neck 25 hasits lower end 30 terminated near the bottom of the jacket 1, and thuswhen the liquid is being circulated in the jacket an eflicient flow ofthe same through the acket is had, which sweeps out any steam pocketswhich may have formed. The jacket is provided with a filling opening 31having a closure 32 which is on a level with the liquid in the jacket,and therefore prevents the jacket from being filled to a point higherthan the level 2. In this way, is the steam space 3 always preserved inthe jacket. The tank 7 furnishes a reserve water supply suflicient toalways maintain the level of the li uid in the jacket at the point 2,and thus it compensatesior any. leakage or loss of fluid.

It is obvious-that those skilled in the art we as t e deta s ofconstruction and the arrangement of parts without de arting from thespirit of the invention, and therefore itis not desired to-be limited tothe above disclosure except as may be required.

thereby raising said level; condensing thevapor thus produced andreturning the condensed liquid to said acket; circulating into and outof said jac et while said normal level of liquid is thus raised anotherportion of sai liquid; and automatically ceasing the circulationv ofsaidsenond named portion of liquid when said normal level is not raised.

2. The process of coolin engine which consists in ing said jacket with acooling liqu'idto a predetermined normal level; heating said liquid toits point of vaporization thereb raisin said level; condensing the vaport us r need and returning the condensed liquid to said jacket;circulating into and out of said jacket while said normal level israised another portion of said liquid; maintainin substantially equalthe pressures on the sald two portions 0 liquid; and automaticallyceasing the circulatlon of said second named portion of liquid when saidnormal level is not raised.

3. The process of coolin a jacket of an engine which consists in lingsaid jacket with a cooling liquid to a predetermined normal level;intermittently heatin said liquid to its point of vaporization, t erebyintermittently raising said liquid level; condensing the vapor thusproduced and forcibly returning the condensed liquid'to said jacket;forcibl circulating into and out of said jacket while said normal levelis raised another portion of said liquid; automatically ceasing thecirculation of said second named portion of liquid when said normallevel is not raised; and conducting vapor to said condensed liquid whenthe circulation of said second named portion of liquid ceases.

ation of this device as i eating a jacket of an i vided with means forfilling the same with a cooling liquid to a normal level and with avapor space above said level; a condenser connected to said vapor space;a double impeller pump having a plurality of compartments; a connectionbetween said condenser and one of said compartments; a connectionleading from the normal level of said liquid in said jacket between saidjacket and another of said compartments; and a common connection betweensaid compartments and said jacket, substantially as described.

6. In a cooling and condensing system for an engine, the combination ofa jacket pro vided with means for filling the same with a cooling liquidto a normal level and with a vapor space above said level; a condenserconnected to said vapor space; a tank associated with said condenser; adouble impeller pump having a plurality of compartments; a connectionbetween said tank and one of said compartments; a liquid circulatingconnection between the normal level of said jacket and another of saidcompartments; and a common connection between said compartments and saidjacket, substantially as described.

7. In a coolin and condensing system for an internal com ustion enginethe combination of a jacket provided with a cooling liquid; means forfilling .said jacket to a predetermined normal level; a condenser forreducing to the liquid form vapors arising from said liquid; a doubleimpeller pump; means for drawing condensed liquid from said condenserinto said pump and forcing the same back into said jacket; means leadingfrom the normal level of liquid in said jacket for drawing liquid fromsaid jacket into said pump, and forcing it back into said jacket throughthe same channel as said condensed li uid; and means for delivering bothquantities of liquid near the bottom of aid jacket, substantially asdescribed.

J. In a cooling and condensing system for an internal combustion enginethe combination of a jacket provided with a cooling liquid; means forfilling said jacket to a predetermined normal level; a condenser forreducing to the liquid form vapors arising from said liquid; a doubleimpeller pump; and connections between said condenser and said pump andleading from the normal level of liquid in said jacket to said pump bywhich one portion of liquid may be continuously returned to said jacketfrom said condenser while another portion of liquid may be circulatedout of and into said jacket. substantially as described.

9. In a cooling and condensing system for internal combustion enginesprovided with a jacket, the combination of means to condense vaporsevolved from said jacket comprising a tank; a diaphragm separating saidtank from the condensing means; a vent for said tank; a pipe to returnthe condensed fluid to said jacket; a second pipe to lead cooling fluidout of said jacket; a third pipe to lead condensed fluid from said tank;an impelling means joined to said three pipes and adapted to maintainthe pressures substantially equal in said second and third pipes,substantially as described.

10. In a cooling and condensing system for internal combustion enginesprovided with a jacket, the combination of means to fill said jacket toa predetermined normal level; means to condense vapors evolved from saidjacket comprising a tank; a diaphragm separating said tank from thecondensing means, and a vent for said tank; a pipe provided with a gooseneck terminating near the bottom of said jacket to return the condensedfluid to said jacket; a second pipe to lead cooling fluid out of saidjacket from the normal level thereof; a third pipe to lead condensedfluid from said tank; an impelling means joined to said three pipes, andadapted to maintain the pressures substantially equal in said second andthird pipes, substantially as described.

11. In a cooling and condensing system for internal combustion engines,the combination of a acket for containing a cooling liquid; means tofill said jacket to a predetermined normal level; a cooler connected tosaid jacket; means adapted to contain an excess supply of coolingliquid; a pump connected to said cooler and to said excess supply ofliquid; and means connected to said pump and to said acket at saidnormal level for limiting the level of said liquid in said jacket,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I' aiiix my signature.

WELLINGTON W. MUIR.

